The Shaggy Star Thingy, and the new API

Hello,

Now that PD Howler
11 is out, and PD Artist 11 too, we would like to mention the new API in
a bit more detail. This is meant for those
users who are also into
programming, coding algorithms for visual effects or generating CG
imagery, software development and especially game developers. We also have new artwork we'd like to share and show you a few new animations, videos and tutorials

If you want to catch up on prior issues of the newsletter, start here:

The Shaggy Star Thingy, and the new API

We've taken some time last year to develop a new API. That means we developed the foundation needed for new developments, and to more easily code and implement new features.

"Shaggy Star Thing" is a plugin that creates unique graphical shapes.
It is one of many ways to create something new in Dogwaffle with
version 11. If you are a programmer, yes, you can add on to the
Dogwaffle Howler 11 or Artist 11 that you purchased. It can be a
framework upon which you add and integrate more of your own features.

Even if you're not a programmer, you will want to check it out. This
one comes pre-compiled and executable as a plugin, so you can still have
fun with it.

It is also available in source code, so you can explore creating powerful code with Howler 11.

If you want the whole project with the source code, download this zip archive: ShaggyStar2.zipsize = 9.25 KB (9,472 bytes)If you want just the executable plugin to add it to your Dogwaffle installation, (keep in mind that you need version 11):

This artist is available for hire. If you need similar quality artwork created, please feel free to contact him.

New Tutorials

With version 11 of PD Artist and PD Howler comes a new feature called the Callouts.

Callouts
are graphic shapes such as bubbles and boxes and arrows and more, often
used to contain text and sound effects and expressions such as POW!
BOOM! or PUNCH! in comics and cartoons. They are made of vector data
coming from emf files (enhanced metafile).

You can create your very own callouts with free tools like Inkscape or OpenOffice Draw, and also in Affinity Designer, a very affordably priced illustration program from Serif. We highly recommend it as a companion to Dogwaffle.

Here is a tutorial that walks you through
discovering the Callouts, and using Serif's Affinity Designer to
further change them into variants and create more new callouts.

And please share your experience with us and others on the forums if you
have some good workflows and techniques that are worth sharing and show
how well you can use Affinity Designer together with Dogwaffle.

Creating tree stumps, big branches and other assets for trees with bark

Dogwaffle has a bunch of brushes for painting various types of foliage
but if you're looking for something a bit more distinct, here's a
tutorial with some ideas on tools that you can use to quickly draw a
rough outline of a tree's main body, stump and a few big roots, then
fill it with bark, add some shading and lighting. Then you can use these
techniques to create basic assets to combine into more complex trees.

Kevin is a young artist who paints with traditional media. No, he
doesn't use Dogwaffle. Not yet, anyway. There's always hope :-)
But he makes great tutorials on his technqiues for oil paintings of great landscapes of many sorts. Highly recommended:

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